Type: Subsidiary
On the web: http://www.marvel.com

Marvel Entertainment's success rests on the strength (and marketability) of its characters. The firm lends its more than 5,000 characters (which include Iron Man, Spider-Man, and X-Men) to publishing, licensing, and film production operations. Through Marvel Publishing, the company is the #1 comic book publisher with a 40% market share. Marvel earns toy licensing revenues through a deal with Hasbro. Other licensing fees come from character use in consumer products such as clothing and video games. Marvel-produced movies include Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, and two Iron Man films. Media giant The Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel at the tail end of 2009 in a deal worth more than $4 billion.

Officers:
Chairman: Morton E. Handel
CEO, Marvel Stuidios: Kevin Feige
President, Marvel Worldwide: Isaac (Ike) Perlmutter

Competitors:
DC Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Warner Bros.

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